1889
Born as Joseph Allanson
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1967
Death of wife Jessie Louisa
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1969
John Joseph Allanson born in Preston on 18th March 1889. He was the eldest son of Hugh Allanson and Mary Ann Finn. He joined the West Lancashire Territorial Force on 8th December 1908 aged 19 years. Between 1906 and 1908 all militia groups were combined into the Territorial Force and men were numbered from number 1. Joseph’s regimental number was 540 indicating that he was the 540th man to join the West Lancs. Territorial Force. His brother John also joined the territorials and both were posted to Kennington Barracks in Ashford, Kent and lodged with the Terry family in Elham, Kent. Joseph married Jessie Louisa Terry, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Terry, on 15th September 1915 only 2 weeks before being sent with his brother John on the 29th September 1915 to France. They married in the church of St Mary the Virgin in Elham. Joseph gave his name as John Joseph Allanson aged 26 years a Sergeant in the Royal Field Artillary, 2nd West Lancs Regiment based at Kenningtion. His father was Hug Allanson a lamplighter. Jessie Louise Terry was 23 years a spinster with no occupation living in Elham. Her father was Henry Terry a shepherd, deceased. The witnesses to the marriage were Elgar William Southen, John Thomas Terry and Ethel Victoria Terry, John Thomas and Ethel Victoria were Jessie Louise's siblings. Elgar William Southen appears to have been a Royal Engineer from Elham who was sent to Egypt on 29th October 1915. Joseph fought with the 2nd West Lancs, as a signalman (confirmed by the crossed flags on the sleeve of his uniform) just outside Arras according to the War diaries and was discharged medically unfit on 5th August 1916 after 269 days in France and a total length of service of 7 years 241 days including 1 year 1 day embodied service i.e. in active service in WW1. His character was "Exemplary". The family story is that he was buried under a building and 'gassed'. Also that he was serving alongside a Ghurkha regiment. On his discharge papers it states that he was Sergeant Allanson of the West Lancs. Ammunition Column of the Royal Field Artillary 3rd Prov. As a signalman he would have had a unit of men who would go into the field with him to locate the enemy guns. On return they would communicate this information to the allied gunners who would attack the enemy guns. He would most likely have been located in an observation tower. He was awarded the Victory Medal, British medal and 15 star. He also had the 'Silver Badge' due to discharge medically unfit. On his discharge he returned to Elham, Kent and worked at the local garage for Tommy Goatman. Joseph and Jessie lived at 5 Prospect Terrace had 4 children born in there. John Allanson born 7th May 1917. Jessie May Allanson born 18th September 1918. Annie Edith Allanson born 25th July 1920. Kathleen Mary Allanson born 3rd April 1923. Around Easter time 1925 the family moved to Meadow View, Nargate Close, Littlebourne and Joseph began working as a postman. They moved again early 1926 to Field View, Ickham where they stayed for about 2 years before moving to The White House, Ickham. Three more children were born in Ickham. George Alfred Allanson born 16th March 1926. Margaret Jean Allanson born 27th May 1928. Dorothy Evelyn Allanson born 16th June 1929. In Spring 1931 they moved again to 7 Ashen Tree Cottages, Preston Hill, Wingham which had just been built. In the early 1960's Joseph and Jessie moved for the last time to 4 North Court Close, Wingham. Jessie Louisa Allanson born 24th December 1891 died 22 December 1967 aged 75 years Joseph Allanson born 18th March 1889 died in the 3rd quarter 1969 aged 80 years. N.B. His name was registered as John Joseph Allanson as per his marriage certificate.
Family History on ancestry.co.uk
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